UA Little Rock Librarian Curates Comprehensive List of Open Access Resources for Solar Eclipse Enthusiasts
With the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8 captivating the attention of sky gazers across Arkansas, a UA Little Rock librarian has curated a comprehensive list of open-access resources to educate and engage enthusiasts about this celestial event.
Drawing upon her expertise in information curation, Jenna Eastwood, assistant professor and teaching and learning librarian, has compiled a wealth of online resources, ranging from scientific articles and educational videos to interactive websites, providing accessible avenues for individuals to delve into the science and wonder of solar eclipses.
“I focused on open-access resources so almost all of these resources should be accessible to anyone, regardless of if they are on campus,” Eastwood said. “There are scholarly articles about eclipses as well as medical websites about how to safely view the solar eclipse. There is also a documentary about a photographer who chases solar eclipses around the world. I covered many different areas because solar eclipses are so impactful.”
The variety of topics on the list include resources about the history of solar eclipses, an eclipse’s impact on animals, art, astronomy, and resources for K-12 students and teachers. Some of the resources that Eastwood thinks people will find the most interesting include:
· NASA’s 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Website
· Encyclopedia of Arkansas articles detailing the history of solar eclipses in Arkansas
· “Chasing Shadows” – A documentary about Geoff Sims, a professional photographer and astronomer who has captured eclipses on many continents
Eastwood will also be on hand during UA Little Rock’s solar eclipse celebration on April 8 to give people advice on how to find great resources and information about solar eclipses.
“I would encourage people to see what kind of information they can find on the solar eclipse,” Eastwood said. “It really does impact so much of the world that there is a lot of interesting information and research that has been done with solar eclipses.”
